A plan to create more parking at Helena's Beattie Street Trailhead is moving on to the next phase.

Helena Parks and Recreation and the Helena Open Lands Management committee are putting together a public open house to showcase two design alternatives, and to hear from constituents about which would suit the city’s needs best.

The Beattie Street Trailhead is one of the city’s most popular access points to open lands, and is the most popular access point to Mt. Ascension. City officials said parking management is becoming more important as traffic to the area grows. Officials also said recent residential growth in the area highlights the need to relocate parking, bathrooms, tables and trash cans farther south on city park property.

The first design provides 24 parking spaces and two handicapped-accessible spaces, has all-gravel surfaces except for the accessible spaces, and would be just beyond where the trailhead currently sits.

The second design has 30 spaces and two handicapped-accessible spaces and would be much farther into the trees, accessible by a two-lane road.

The two new designs will be presented from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, and Feb. 27, in Room 426 of the City-County Building.

During an administrative meeting in late 2017, some nearby residents told city officials they wanted more control in the planning process because they felt like they weren't being heard.

Mary Hollow, executive director for the Prickly Pear Land Trust, said at the time that the goal is to find common ground between the residents and the trailhead users.